Jesus commands: "Don't assume." He says it several ways: Don't assume you know what I'm going to say. Don't be surprised by what I say. Don't think like everybody else and assume that's right.

THREE TIMES JESUS SAID "DON'T ASSUME":

1. John 3 - Nicodemus: "Don't be surprised when I say you must be born ANŌTHEN" (from above OR again). Nicodemus heard "again." Jesus meant "from above."
2. Matthew 10: "Don't assume I came to bring peace. I came to bring a sword." Follow Him anyway—even if it brings division.
3. Matthew 5: "Don't misunderstand—I didn't come to abolish the Law. I came to accomplish its purpose."

THREE THINGS WE ASSUME:

1. WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IS RIGHT Mark 7: Pharisees got mad disciples didn't wash hands before eating. But the OT NEVER commanded this. Pharisees took a priest tradition and applied it to everyone, dividing people into "holy ones" and "sinners." Jesus called them HYPOCRITES. Yesterday's solutions become today's problems.

2. WE KNOW OTHERS' MOTIVATIONS Joshua 22: Two tribes built an altar. Israel prepared for WAR—assuming rebellion. But they TALKED first. Turns out it was a memorial, not for sacrifice. Israel assumed WRONG. Mind reading is NOT a spiritual gift.

3. INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AGREE WITH US Romans 12:2 - We're prone to GROUP THINK. We listen to people who agree until we're convinced everyone agrees. Paul says: Be TRANSFORMED. Let God change the way you think.

HOW TO AVOID ASSUMPTIONS:

1. Recognize mind reading is NOT a spiritual gift
2. Celebrate differences of opinion (Romans 14)
3. Believe the best of others until proven wrong (Romans 12:10)

BOTTOM LINE: Don't assume. TALK. COMMUNICATE.

Conversations may be awkward. Do them anyway.

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